Soulstream (Holly Johnson album) explained

Soulstream
Type:Album
Artist:Holly Johnson
Cover:Hollysoulstream.jpeg
Border:yes
Released:11 October 1999[1]
Genre:Dance
Length:52:46
Label:Pleasuredome
Producer:Holly Johnson, Steve Lovell
Prev Title:Dreams That Money Can't Buy
Prev Year:1991
Next Title:Europa
Next Year:2014

Soulstream is the third studio album by British singer-songwriter Holly Johnson, which was released in 1999 on Johnson's own label, Pleasuredome. The album, which was recorded at Johnson's own home studio, contains a re-working of his hit song with Frankie Goes to Hollywood, "The Power of Love", as well as a re-working of his 1994 single "Legendary Children (All of Them Queer)".

In 2010, Johnson picked "Soulstream" as his favourite track from the album. The album's title came from a quote from Stevie, a film about the poet, played by Glenda Jackson.[2]

Three singles were released from the album. "Disco Heaven" reached No. 85 on the UK Singles Chart and "The Power of Love" reached No. 56. The previous year, in 1998, "Hallelujah!" was also released as a promotional only single.[3]

Speaking to the Liverpool Echo in 1999, Johnson said of the album: "I definitely had a creative urge to fulfil. I had written a book and was producing art, but I was still writing songs as well. Now, though, it's harder because I run my own record label as well as the music. I really hope people like this record but, if they don't, tough."[1]

Critical reception

On its release, Caroline Sullivan of The Guardian noted the album's "decidedly spiritual bent", with some of the songs containing a "rather pat optimism". She added: "The message would resound more profoundly if it were accompanied by some decent tunes, rather than colourless beats-by-the-yard that do nothing for Johnson's reedy voice." Sullivan picked "Disco Heaven" and "Legendary Children" as the album's two best tracks.

In a retrospective review, Jon O'Brien of AllMusic wrote: "Soulstream isn't without its charms, but after such a lengthy absence, Johnson needed to recapture the glorious pop spirit of his previous outfit if he was to make any impression on a chart scene vastly different from when he left it, something its clichéd and disappointingly bland sound resolutely failed to do." He noted the "infectious camp Euro-disco" of both "Hallelujah" and "Disco Heaven" but felt most of the songs sounded "at least five years out of date".

Track listing

Original release

All songs written by Holly Johnson except where noted.

  1. "Lady Luck" – 4:20
  2. "Soulstream" – 5:05
  3. "Disco Heaven" (Sicario Club Mix Radio Edit) – 4:15
  4. "Don't Give Up" – 4:15
  5. "Hope" – 4:52
  6. "The Best Invention" – 4:31
  7. "Hallelujah!" (Eric Kupper Radio Mix) (Holly Johnson, Nick Bagnall) – 3:58
  8. "All U Need Is Love" – 5:32
  9. "Legendary Children (2000)" (Holly Johnson, Nick Bagnall) – 3:38
  10. "The Power of Love" (Brian Nash, Holly Johnson, Mark O'Toole, Peter Gill) – 5:03 (UK #56)
  11. "Urban Jungle/In The House of the Rising Sun" (Album Edit) (Traditional) – 7:08

Soulstream (Expanded Edition) (2011)

Disc 1 – Original Album

  1. "Lady Luck" – 4:19
  2. "Soulstream" – 5:04
  3. "Disco Heaven" (Sicario Club Mix Radio Edit) – 4:15
  4. "Don't Give Up" – 4:14
  5. "Hope" – 4:52
  6. "The Best Invention" – 4:30
  7. "Hallelujah!" (Eric Kupper Radio Mix) – 3:58
  8. "All U Need Is Love" – 5:32
  9. "Legendary Children (2000)" – 3:37
  10. "The Power of Love" – 5:03
  11. "Urban Jungle/In The House of the Rising Sun" (Album Edit)" – 7:08

Disc 1 continued – Bonus Tracks

  1. "Legendary Children" (1994 Radio Mix) – 4:13
  2. "The Power of Love" (Millennium Mix) – 5:33
  3. "All U Need Is Love" (Demo) – 4:54
  4. "In The House of the Rising Sun" (DNA Instrumental Mix) – 5:31
  5. "Legendary Children" (Percapella) – 1:25

Disc 2 – The Dance Remixes

  1. "In the House of the Rising Sun" (12" Definitive Mix) – 5:35
  2. "In the House of the Rising Sun" (Doog's House Mix) – 5:03
  3. "Disco Heaven" (Wayne G's Heaven Mix) – 7:03
  4. "Disco Heaven" (Frankie Says... 12" Edit) – 6:22
  5. "Disco Heaven" (Daz and Andy's Heavenly Remix) – 6:57
  6. "Disco Heaven" (Sicario Club Mix) – 7:10
  7. "Hallelujah!" (Frankie Says 12" Disco Mix) – 6:07
  8. "Hallelujah!" (Eric Kupper 12" Pump Mix) – 7:54
  9. "Legendary Children" (Dances With Handbags Mix) – 7:06
  10. "Legendary Children" (Saturday Night in Heaven Mix) – 7:58
  11. "Legendary Children" (London 12" Dub) – 6:49

Personnel

Notes and References

  1. News: Johnson. Debbie. 9 October 1999. If anyone had told me then I would still be here now, I'd have been very surprised. Liverpool Echo. 13.
  2. Web site: Ashley Smith . Holly Johnson Questions . Slade Discography Website . 29 December 2010 . 31 May 2021.
  3. Web site: HOLLY JOHNSON | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company . Officialcharts.com . 2020-04-20.

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